Post-Classical Period

Middle East & ISLAM Sasanid Empire 224 – 651 CE Muhammad 570 – 632 CE –Prophet of Allah –Sees Islam as an extension of Christianity Muslims begin to take over the Middle East Islam spreads most successfully in urban areas Umayaad, Abbasid Europe was under the cloud of the Dark Ages, but advancements in learning, exploration, mathematics, and history were thriving in Islam Sunni/Shi’ite split

THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE AT ITS HEIGHT

Europe in the Middle Ages Germanic Kingdoms- Religion Many nomadic groups as well Byzantine Empire Kiev Feudalism Population explosion during “High Middle Ages’ Schism of 1054 CE Crusades CE

China at its Height Sui CE –Grand Canal –Buddhist Tang CE –Chang’an- the most prosperous and populous city in the world –Neoconfucianism

EAST ASIA, cont. Song CE –Increased agricultural capacity –Increased economic productivity –Improved military technology –Footbinding Japan –Adoption of Buddhism –Taika Reforms 646 CE Korea –Adoption of Buddhism & Confucianism –Printing, textiles Vietnam –Women have more freedom –Villages are strongest centers of government

Americas Maya CE –Maize –City-kingdoms Aztecs CE –Empire fed itself on conquest –Chinampas Inca CE –Allyu, mit’a & reciprocal labor obligations –Bureaucracy/Quipu (or khipu) Northern Amerindians –Many different tribes and organizations, with varying degrees of social stratification and government

Mongols Migrate with herds- excellent horsemen Very independent clans until Ghengis Khan (r ) Yuan (China)- Khublai Khan Il-Khans (Persia) –Devastated economy- tax farming –Became Muslim Golden Horde (Russia) s –Muslim –“Mongol Yoke”- though protected, Russia is isolated from economic and technological developments of elsewhere

Impact of Mongols Secured long-distance trade and communication routes Destroyed many important cultural centers & systems Maintained peace for a relatively long time (Pax Mongolica) Spread the plague Redistributed conquered peoples with specialized skills Inspired a prompt return to traditional Chinese culture in the Ming dynasty

Ming Peasants overthrow Mongol dynasty after major economic downturn/plague Neoconfucianism Civil Service Exam Voyages of Zheng He ( CE) New food crops + favorable trade with Europe

Africa Trans-Saharan gold trade Ghana, Mali, Songhai Islam Christianity, Axum Swahili Coast Women have a higher status

Tropical Asia Sultanate of Delhi CE –Overtaxed subjects –Muslim Indian Ocean Trading Ports –Highly lucrative –Producers and traders Port of Malacca